Free Nobody But You B&N by Barbara Freethy Page B

you should take it easy for the next day or two. I'll give you a prescription for some painkillers, and you can be on your way."
    She was relieved to hear that. Being back in a hospital felt both awkward and strangely comfortable. For the past ten years, her life had revolved around medicine. Hospitals had been her second home. All of her friends had been doctors and nurses, lab techs and orderlies. And when she'd gone into the Army, the uniforms had changed but not the medicine.
    She'd always been good at her job. It was the one place where she'd felt smart, proud and in control—until her life and her love had blown up right in front of her. She forced the image out of her mind, but she knew the memories would always be there lurking in the background, bringing stress and anxiety to every day of her life.
    "You should continue to ice. It will help the bruising," the doctor added.
    "I'm a nurse. I know what to do."
    "Sometimes nurses make the worse patients."
    "I think they say that about doctors."
    He smiled. "Probably true. Call me if you have any unexpected pain or severe bleeding."
    "I will."
    As the doctor left the room, Spencer walked in, followed by a blond woman wearing an overcoat over a wedding gown. Hallie knew immediately who she was. This was Max's bride—
    Emma.
    "Hallie, how are you?" Spencer asked, concern in his eyes. "Is your nose broken?"
    "No, just bruised. How did you know where I was?"
    "Emma got it out of the nurse. She was quite persistent." He smiled at the bride. "Emma, this is Hallie Cooper—Emma Callaway."
    Emma walked over to the examining table, her blue eyes showing strain and gratitude.
    "I want to thank you, Hallie. Spencer told me what you did for Max. I'm sorry you were caught up in such a bad situation, but I'm also really glad you were there." She frowned. "That sounds bad—"
    "I know what you mean," Hallie said, cutting her off. "And I was happy to help. Max said your name a few times and told us he loved you."
    Emma's eyes began to water. "I didn't think he was conscious."
    "He drifted in and out," Hallie said. "But it was clear he was thinking about you." She hoped her words were making Emma feel better, but as a tear slid out of the corner of her eye, she thought maybe not.
    Emma wiped the tear away. "I'm not going to cry," she said. "Max will be all right. He's tough."
    "Max is in surgery now," Spencer put in.
    "That's good." She paused. "I appreciate you coming to check on me, but you should go back to your families."
    "I think I will do that," Emma said.
    "I'll be up in a minute," Spencer said.
    "Okay." Emma smiled at Hallie. "I hope you feel better. I know Max is going to want to meet you when he wakes up."
    "I would love to see him back on his feet."
    As Emma left the room, Hallie swallowed a little nervously. She was suddenly aware of Spencer in a very different way. They'd been caught up in a life and death situation, no time to think, only to act, and they'd bonded, connected on a level that only an extremely dangerous moment could bring on. But that moment was over. Now what?
    Now—nothing, she told herself. She'd made a plan for her life, a plan to lie on a beach for a few months and regroup. She might have missed her flight, but there would be another one tomorrow. She should be on it.
    "What a day, huh?" Spencer asked, folding his arms in front of his chest. "It feels surreal. Like a dream."
    "More like a nightmare. Did you talk to the police?"
    "Yeah, that's why it took me so long to get here."
    "What happened to the gunmen?"
    "The one I shot was taken to another hospital. The other one is being booked into jail. They're going to go away for a long time."
    "I hope so."
    "Have you talked to police?" Spencer asked.
    "I spoke to someone when I first got here. He brought me my phone, my wallet, and my now worthless plane ticket. He said he'd call me tomorrow if he had any other questions, but I'm sure all of us will tell the same story." She slid off the table, feeling a